Sep. 1, 2008 - Free Chicken Strips at Chic-Fil-A!!
Just for today, Sept 1st, Chic-Fil-A is offering free chicken strips (a new menu item) to anyone who comes into the store (or through the drive-thru even) wearing their favorite football team logo gear. It can be a professional, college, even a highschool team!!
We were thinking of going ourselves when we realized, sports fans that we are, we do not own any logo emblazoned clothing. Actually, we have a few sweatshirts, but who wants to wear that when it's 90* outside? So our conversation is going something like this...
Hubby: We could go by the dollar store and see what kind of stuff they have. Sometimes they have sports stuff. Or that little outdoor store...they have $2.00 licensed wear.
Me: You guys could just wear your sweatshirts just to order, then take them off, that way we don't need to get everyone a t-shirt. Or we could just print out LOGOS and pin them to our clothes.
Hubby: We can't do that..I have an old Tampa Bay...oh wait, that's baseball.
Our son: Do we really NEED chicken strips THAT BAD?!
I laughed out loud. I guess if you have to buy the logo t-shirt to get the free meal, it's not really free anymore, huh?
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Jun. 6, 2008 - Summer Fun and Kisses from God
Don't you just love 'God Kisses?' You know, when you really want something, but it's not really a need and you don't have the $$, but then God gives you one?
I started out the day yesterday perusing the online selection of water toys...mostly slip and slides, the deluxe models. Sadly, my husband just lost his supplemental income job...the one that pays for extras and groceries, so money is going to be a little tight around here until he picks up something else. So my perusal was more wishful thinking than anything else. "You know, maybe if I can find a really good deal..."
Later in the morning, while taking my kids to FREE Tennis Camp, I passed a garbage heap that had something on top that looked a lot like something I had seen online that very morning. Girls, I am not proud. I exclaimed, "I think I am going to be a garbage picker today!" My three year old said, "I wanna be a garbage picker too!" (this caused some problems for me later in the day...she said it all day long...made for some interesting conversations...heehee) So, I dropped off the boys and doubled back by that house. I threw the whole contraption in the back of my van deciding to wait until I got home to see what was wrong with it.
I stopped by my house and threw it on the porch and went on to run my errands. When I picked up the boys, they were so excited to see it on the porch. Ian took it to the back yard to unfold it and see what was wrong. Here is what he found...
And here is how I fixed this simple problem...
Larger view of my creative solution.
Clamped off with a rubberband and a twisttie, the hose part worked like a charm and will provide many hours of summer fun, courtesy of God.
Isn't God good?
Hope you are all having a great summer too!!
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May. 30, 2008 - FPEA ~ and my FL trip
I have had a blog post rolling around in my head since I came home from FL. Before I could even post though, life just kept happening, you know?
First I had to catch up on all the sleep I did not get over the weekend. I am a gal who requires a lot a beauty sleep and while I did not have roommates who snored, we did enjoy talking deep into the night and the wee hours of the morning. =) Secondly, I dislike flying. I don't have any morbid fears or anything, but I do have extra fluid behind my eardrums. This is generally something taken care of via 'tubes' in the ear, however I was past 30 when they recommended this particular surgery/procedure to me and was not feeling like it was really in the budget. What's a little extra fluid now? After all these years, I am sorta attached to it! haha But it does make flying terribly miserable. Think of having your head in a Hoover and the pressure of your brains being sucked out your ears and you will approximate the feelings I have while on a flight. See why I don't like it? After I get back on the ground, it takes a few days for my ears to normalize again. They are still a little stopped up, even today. So with all my ear 'issues' I couldn't possible post a new note for you all...
Upon arriving home, I found that my husband had upgraded his phone (and changed our cell numbers) to a shiny new palm centro. I was instantly feeling a little jealous as I love new toys and this is a COOL new gadget when in a burst of "I have missed you so much this weekend" goodness, he uncharacteristically, spontaneously suggested I upgrade too!! So I have had a new phone gadget to figure out and play with and transfer all my details to for a couple days now. I think when I get it all ironed out, I will really love this organizer/phone.
And I can count it a business expense because I just started a new business over the FPEA weekend too. I adore chocolate and good chocolate especially. Some of my best Christmas presents from Eric and the boys have been when they went to Godiva and splurged a little. Imagine how I felt when I started reading all the recent research that suggests that dark chocolate is really a super food and actually very good for you!? Justified in my craving, that's how I felt! =) My happiness knows no bounds now...I am the proud new distributor for Xocai~ Healthy Chocolate. Let me tell you, this is GOOD chocolate and it is really good for you. Look for posts in the future with regard to this exciting new chapter in my life. I am learning soooo much about chocolate that it would never fit in a simple single paragraph. Plus, the business oportunity is AMAZING!! If you just can't wait, explore my new website www.healthychocolatejunky.com
And lastly, FPEA did not disappoint. It was a great year. Maybe it was just because it was the first year in a very long time when I just attended and took it all in instead of working at the KONOS booth. While working at the booth was always a highlight of my year, truly both exhilarating and exhausting at the same time, I was in desperate need of some encouragement myself this year. I am an encourager at heart, but after eight years of homeschooling (and knowing highschool is just around the corner) I am tired, friends. I hesitate to even say it, but I may have even lost my passion. (*gasp*) I was greatly encouraged by Sally Clarkson's workshops this year. I stopped at her booth and just wept and she was so gracious and wonderful. She both counseled me and prayed with me. She is my new pretend BFF. If you happened by her booth saw a cute gal in black and white with a great haircut (smile) crying her eyes out, it was probably me. Look for more posts about finding your strength in the middle of the journey from me soon...
Now off to the Riverwalk with my kids and neices and nephew. It's too pretty to be inside anymore.
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May. 21, 2008 - Bangs are for decoration...
Moving stinks for a variety of reasons. Some of our moving woes I have posted about...see here and here. But really, after you are somewhat settled in and able to get around with our getting lost, there are still things that are unsettled. Like finding a new hair salon and stylist.
I thought I had found one. I asked around for recommendations and went in a met the gal. She seemed nice and her hair, although long, was not "dated." I made an appointment. She cut, we chatted...it was nice. She followed the lines of my previous stylist in FL, so I was pretty happy with the cut. I made another appointment. It was only a few weeks later, a little trim and color. I decided to take the plunge and do some fun color (red and blonde highlights). The red was a tiny bit in the pink side, but overall I was happy.
It was just before the holidays when I last saw her. I waited a while. I was desperately in need of a cut. I made an appointment. It's amazing how not keeping up with your style makes you feel frumpy. I wanted a little change so I asked her to cut the length a little and "go a little heavy on the bangs." You know, hair terminology is a tricky thing. Often, clarification is in order.
I have worn my hair in variations of the popular 'Jennifer Anistion' shag haircut on and off for several years. The shag is cute, versatile and trendy. I cut it short during my pregnancy and during my daughters infancy (my profile pic), but even that is a modified shag cut. My husband would love for me to time travel to the early 90's and have very long curly tresses, but you know that's just not the look for an almost 40 something mother of four. But my friends, I have NEVER, even in childhood wore bangs like I received in the chair that day. Oh yes, she did. She cut a semi circle of very short hair right into the front of my head!! She called it giving me a pivot point. "...this way you can wear the bangs down for decoration." Decoration???!
I'm sorry. Bangs cut in that fashion do NOT fit with a shag style. They do not remotely fit with MY style! I have tried for a month to find a way to make it work for me, but girlfriends, I truly hate it. HATE. IT. Even so, I had another appointment scheduled and in desperation I called my former stylist in FL. I wondered if she could help me with terminology so that I can communicate more clearly my wishes. I was also looking for tips or styles she might recommend to cover up or make them (the bangs) blend in. Sigh.
Her response~CANCEL THAT APPOINTMENT RIGHT NOW!!! "If she doesn't GET you after three times in her chair, she's not GONNA get you." Ummm, well I still need a haircut though. Her advice was to look around everyday for someone who has a great cut or style and ask where they get it done. That's a great idea and all good and fine, but I need a cut NOW!! But hey, I happen to be traveling to FL for the homeschool convention and have some free time on Thursday. Hallelujah! My stylist is free too!!
So, I get to go to FPEA, see all my friends from FL and get my hair cut and colored by my friend and stylist...God is good. I will post pics of the after when I get home. Oh praise the King, I am so very excited.
And I will eat all the Chevy's salsa I can possibly get into my system. I might even swim in it. That was totally unrelated to hair in any way, but another very exciting thing about going to FL none-the-less. Because I love me some Chevy's salsa.
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Apr. 30, 2008 - Why I Love the UFC
What, you don't know what UFC is? It stands for Ultimate Fighting Challenge or Championship...maybe Club? It doesn't really matter in the whole scheme of things because I don't really love it, but my husband does. He loves all things martial arts. Since he was a wee one, he has wanted to be Bruce Lee. So back to UFC... naturally, what looks to me as two men beating the living snot out of each other is really a mixed martial arts competition. I am learning to have an appreciation for it, partly to enjoy something my husband enjoys...but there has been a side benefit as well. One I could not have anticipated.
Hang with me here. We are the proud parents of three boys (and one princess...but we are talking about the boys now) and anyone who has boys knows...boys like to roughhouse. It is just how God made them. I remember when they were much younger and they were horsing around in our schoolroom. Ian (who was 5 at the time) was spinning Reagan (3 yr old) around and around and got the bright idea to let him go and see what happened. Well, I am sure you can imagine what happened next. That's right. Reagan was propelled across the room with such super-sonic force that even though he hit our cushy upholstered couch, he hit with such force it split his head open. Who knew that even a somewhat soft surface could do such damage?
It's worth noting here that my husband gets freaked out by blood... especially if it comes from his family. And head wounds bleed. Profusely. So, after hearing not-your-normal screams from the other part of the house, we both rushed to the scene. Hubby arrived first. and FREAKED OUT. He wanted someone to call 9-1-1. I arrived just seconds later. Reagan was already holding a wad of paper towels over the gash so I could not appraise it, but I felt that 9-1-1 might be overkill. So, while my spousal unit hyperventilated, I called a paramedic friend of ours. He gave me specific instructions to tell if the wound needed stitches and a trip to the ER would be in order. I removed the paper towel to assess the site and almost passed out myself. I could see the BONE girls. I get shivers now, just thinking about it.
Well, long story short, boys usually equal roughhousing which could equal blood and in our case, six stitches (so far). As I mentioned, my husband has been pretty freaked out at the sight of blood in the past. Here is the UFC connection. After a couple years watching these guys in the octagon beat the living daylights out of each other, he is a lot calmer. He has seen that it is possible to get hurt and live to tell about it. You can actually bleed, from the face/head and after a little superglue, be good as new. I know it seems to be an oxymoron, but it is true. Used to be, at the very sound of boys thumping and yelping, hubby would be like those dogs on linoleum who can not get traction. He could not get there fast enough. Now, it's more of a holler in their general direction. "Everything okay?"
Yep, it's all good. And that's why I like the UFC. Which, by the way, stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship.
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Apr. 22, 2008 - Outsourcing. Is it really worth it?
Ummm. Where to start. Outsourcing supposedly saves money...what it boils down to though is that big corporations are more concerned with their bottom line than customer service. Take what happened to us since we have moved here.
We are serviced by both the gas and the electric company. The local utilities are truly local, I drive by and drop off my payment there periodically. I have met the sweet receptionist there. I like them. On the other hand, the gas is serviced by a huge conglomerate based in Atlanta, GA. There are no local numbers or contacts listed in the phone book or on the website and when I call customer service, I am really calling INDIA!
And I have needed to call customer service because they have not been able to get my bill correct from the moment we moved in! My first bill reflected the deposit and connection charges. I paid it promptly. the next bill I received was almost $500! At this point I called the number on the back of my bill, not so much to dispute the charges, but rather to clarify what caused it to be so high and is this the kind of bill I was to expect every month. If so, I could see making everyone bundle up since I would be keeping the thermostat at a chilly 65* to save money.
The answer I first received should have tipped me off that I was not dealing with anyone local. Her answer to "Why is my bill so high?" ~ "Well, it's cold where you live." Uh, duh!! She then asked what appliances we have that are serviced by gas (pay attention, this will be important later). Not only is our home heated by gas, but we have a gas fireplace, gas stove/range, and gas water heater. She suggested that the size of my family could be a cause as that's a lot of hot water. HUH? While I am certain that the hot water heater gets a lot of use, I can say with some certainty that we did not work it that hard!!
It was only after going round and round with her that I finally got the answer I needed. We moved into this house in October, I had the gas switched over in November, paid the first bill in December and received the astronomical one in January. The bill in January was for two and half month of service. For some reason, they could not read the meter one month, so I was billed for the first two readings at once. Well, I suggested a reasonable solution. Since I was being billed for more than two months of service, it seemed only fair that I would have two months or more to pay it. I was told this was not an option, however I could sign up for budget billing so that I wouldn't have an excessively high bill again.
Even though I pushed back, she was pretty adamant that there was nothing she could do about my bill. So I agreed to the budget billing and made it very clear that even though she wasn't making arrangements with me, I was only able to make a partial payment. I did pay a partial payment and she assured me that my gas should be fine. As long as I paid towards the balance each month.
I have called every billing cycle since to clarify why I have a past due balance, to have them make note that I am making my payments in a timely manner and to remind them that this whole mess is their fault in the first place. I would have been caught up this month...
We went to a friends home for dinner Thursday (April 9th) night, came home and gave the toddler a bath and told my boys to take showers. When they were complaining of it being too cold, I figured that we had overloaded the hot water heater...but when hubby got up the next morning to shower, there was still not any hot water. That's when I figured out...THEY'VE TURNED OFF OUR GAS!!!
I called the same number. Again I talked to someone in India, I should have just asked to immediately be connected to someone on this side of the ocean because the next hour was almost enough to make me spit fire and curse like a sailor. Although he had my account pulled up in front of him, he told me that my gas was shut off for non-payment (I have been paying every month) and that to reconnect I would have to immediately pay the past-due balance (remember I was going to be caught up this month anyways, I was just waiting to pay in the second half of the month due to hubbys pay schedule) as well as a $50 reconnection fee AND an additional deposit of $270 since I don't pay my bills and they would need a reserve to draw from when this happened again.
AFTER I agreed to those ridiculous terms, I got to talk to someone in AMERICA. She asked for clarification as to why I was transferred to the "escalation center." The reason that she was given was that I did not want to agree to the additional $270. Which was only partially true! The rest is of course that my bill has not been correct since the beginning and that I have never missed a payment (I just haven't paid as much as they have asked for as I was stretching out the initial $500 over a few months).
Although she was gracious enough to recognize my problem (it was about time) and reverse all the extra charges, we were still with out gas all weekend...which meant no hot water, no cooking except in the microwave, and no heat. The heat shouldn't have been a problem as it is spring-time, but of course, we had a cold snap that weekend and my house stayed at a chilly 64*.
I have a feeling that if I had been able to call someone local in the first place, this could all have been avoided. What do you think?!
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Mar. 28, 2008 - Singing the praises...
First, Easter has come and gone, and while so many thoughtful bloggers used this lovely technological platform to remind everyone of the great Truth of the spring holiday, my blog did not sing His praises.
So today, I wish to say, Praise the Lord!! We serve a Christ who is not still in the tomb, but has beaten death and is victoriously seated at the right hand of the Father. He is ever interceding for us and has gone ahead to prepare a place for us. I am so grateful to be a part of the Family of God. And I am privileged that He has entrusted to our care, four little souls to look after and to train up. I pray I can do the job well.
On to my other 'sing the praises' news. You may remember that my children were down with a terribly virulent flu bug. For those of you just joining us, the time line went something like this...first boy down for several days w/ fever and general malaise. Checked out mom recommends rest and fluids. Second boy begins complaining of same symptoms four days into first boys illness. Mom begins to suspect something is awry because first boy is not getting better yet and now another one is down. Still, seeing that they are both 'good' patients, mom administers immune system boosters and lots of chicken soup and begins lysoling the entire house. SIX days into first boys sickness (he's still sick), 2yr old begins to run fever as well. Mom snaps to attention because her days are really sunk w/ a pre-schooler strapped to your leg.
So, for the details here, read my last post. The doctor recommended Tamiflu for the little one. However, I prefer more natural alternatives and I HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT WE FOUND!!!!! Only a tiny bit of research convinced us that TamiFlu wasn't the best option for our daughter. I still didn't want her strapped to my hip for the next week. The boys were good patients (in that they stayed in thier beds with the portable DVD player/gameboy/book w/a minimum of complaining) but two years olds are not...
SO, we tried (insert drumroll here) Ocillococcinum. It is a homeopathic flu remedy. My daughter went right to bed the day we got home from the doctor. It was early in the evening, but she was feverish and cranky. I went out and picked up some Ocillo that night. I gave it to her the next morning and her fever broke almost immediately. She was her normal cheery self for the better part of the day. She had another dose that evening and the again morning and evening for two more days. Friends, can I tell you, that stuff is nothing short of a miracle medicine. She never suffered from the flu at all. If anything, she may have exhibited mild cold symptoms. It was truly amazing.
If the flu is still in your neck of the woods, run, don't walk, to your nearest drug store (it's even at Wal-Mart and Target!!) and get some TODAY! Bonus, the website has an instant coupon for $1.50 off any package, any size. You won't regret it. And you won't get sick either...
And that's something to sing praises about!
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Mar. 10, 2008 - Potty training woes maybe coming to an end....
Oh, everyone said that girls are easier. She'll get it in no time. I'm here to tell you she is smart, but you know, she's just NOT getting it.
With all the boys, I gave them all the necessary information and did NOT push them. Okay, I pushed Nick. But after we both got frustrated I decided I had never seen an adult who wasn't potty trained so I would just lay off. It worked. Within weeks, he asked for big boy underwear and never had an accident since! (He's taller than I am now and will probably be mortified at this info being broadcast into blogdom..)
So with the other two boys, I just took the same relaxed approach. Read the book (you know the Once Upon a Potty book), showed them where and how, bought big boy pants and them just waited it out. Worked beautifully every time.
So, the princess...not so much. First off, she has had an 'awareness' for quite some time. She is the baby who finds a quiet corner to hide in while pooping...as a toddler (almost 3 now) she prefers the "secret clubhouse." (the closet under the stairs) Hubby says she's already potty trained, we just need to direct her to the right room to hide in!
So I have been sharing a lot with her the following things. We put our potty in the potty seat. The potty seat is in the bathroom. She pooped in her pants and then dumped it into the toilet. (did I tell you she was smart?) Today, I said..."NO, take off your panties first, then put your potty RIGHT INTO THE POTTY SEAT!"
You guessed it. She stripped naked, found a quiet place to squat (to mix things up a little, she used the corner of her room behind the rocker) and pooped...right on the carpet. 
THEN, she came to find me so we could, "put the potty into the potty seat mama." *giggle*
Sigh. I feel like we are one step closer maybe as she didn't poop in her pants this time...
I'll keep you all posted on our progress.
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Feb. 6, 2008 - "Lost" time
I am a total "Lostie." It's sad but true.
Initially, it was my husband who started watching. His tastes run more to the sci-fi and action end of the spectrum so when he said he liked it, it was a pretty good sign I would NOT! =) But, the writers and creators of the show have done a good job of developing the characters and I personally have enjoyed seeing some of their stories develop.
Lost is fun because of all the 'easter eggs' that are hidden through out the show. It is just creepy to see lives of passengers cross before they even got on the plane. Creepy in a good way...you know. They have woven such an intricate story line that sometimes you want to watch again to get little details you would have missed the first time.
They showed a commercial last week for Oceanic Airlines, the fictional airline of flight 815. In it, in between the pretty girls selling exotic destinations, a guy was trying to hack in and leave his own message. His name is Sam and his site is www.find815.com His fiancee was a flight attendant on the lost flight and he is on a mission to find her. If you go to the site, you can join him on his journey.
It will suck up your time, but in a good way. (Is that even possible?!) I love the folks behind this stuff, it's just smart entertainment.
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Oct. 26, 2007 - Adjusting to life in a small(er) town...
Well, we are here now and I have been saving up my grievances so that I would only make ONE negative post. It's been a long month. Moving in (there are still boxes to unpack!), getting settled into a routine (we still are not a part of a larger community of Homeschoolers and we are all starting to miss our friends), and adjusting to life here is taking a while.
First, there was the problem with our mail. We weren't getting any!! There were a few pieces on the mantle that were hand delivered to the man we had doing some painting before we moved in. Along w/ those was one of those yellow slips from the post office that tells you "there is something wrong with your mailbox." Apparently, here in the historic district, everyone had porch boxes and the mail was delivered on foot...a long time ago. Now, there is a federal law (I suspect, due to cranky, tired, foot weary mailmen) to mandate that everyone had a curb box. So we had to purchase and install a mailbox. But not before the utility companies could come out and mark the lines so that we wouldn't dig and hit a water main or something equally as disasterous. And they couldn't come til Friday...I called on Tuesday. **sigh**
In addition to the utilities being a potential problem, we are living in the downtown historic area. Lots of character to the house and very convenient to everything, but we have no driveway. This means we park on the street in front of the house. As you all know, in an effort to be more efficient with their time, the mailman will drive right by your mailbox if it's blocked...after all, he can just bring it tomorrow! So I was (and still am) very concerned about the placement of our box on the curb affecting our mail delivery. We opted to put it at the corner of our lot vs the end of the sidewalk (which would be the middle of the house), so that we could still park and hopefully not block it. This has worked fine so far, but on Thursdays, after Eric leaves, I have to center my van between the mail and the garbage so that they both get taken care of.
Which brings me to my next rant...the garbage men left all my boxes!! I took the time to break them down and stack them neatly (okay, I supervised the boys and they did a fine job) and they are still sitting on my curb!! grrrrr But, I know that is not necessarily a small town problem. I think it is on the interview questionnaire when one applies for the position of garbage man (do you think they have an application process?). "How do you feel about leaving a job only half done?"
But then, the police here are making up for it. On my way out of town for my High School Reunion, I was stopped for running a red light. In my defense, I do not make a practice of running red lights. I have not lived here in a very long time and I am not familiar with the area. I was double checking my directions and when I saw the light, it was too late.
I had favor with God, as she did not site me for running the light, or for not having changed over my tags (they are expired FL tags, why renew when we are moving and we'll have to register in TN anyway?), or for having a FL license (you only have seven days after you relocate to get a new DL! How crazy is that! Like that's at the very top of my to do list!!), OR for not having proof of Insurance (we are insured, but I could not find my card when she asked. I found it later, it was an expired one anyways. That probably would have put me over the edge with her).
Grace there, however...Eric went out the other day to go to work only to find a parking ticket on my van! Yep, for parking in front of our house facing the wrong direction on the wrong side of the street. I guess the donut shops are closed overnight around here, cause this was issued at 1 am. Officer Nix had nothing better to do. I will probably try to argue my case just because it was the middle of the night and in front of our house in a residential area. It's only $15, but it's the principle folks!! It took me a whole day to cool down over that one!
Speaking of things being closed, I know the book stores are closed because we tried to take the kids one night after dinner (and cleanup). We pulled into the parking lot at 7:55pm and saw a lot of people leaving. I said, "I think they are closing." Everyone replied, "It's only 8o'clock mom! It's still early!" (We are still on FL time, where things are hopping all the time). We unloaded and got to the door, and sure enough, they were closing. Load wails of protest and sighs of disgust at how early everything shuts down around here were heard from the peanut gallery. We took them to an alternate location to appease them.
If you are still with me...you win the good friend award! All this complaining would have scared a lesser friend away!
To end on a more positive note, the weather is getting cooler and we are enjoying being outside. I will need to go clothes shopping soon as we have very few warm clothes to wear!! Eric is enjoying his new job and the people/place he works seem to like him as well. 
We really like the house we are living in, it is very cute and roomy. I will try to post pictures soon.
Blessings! I feel much better for getting this all off my chest!
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Oct. 19, 2007 - Seriously, I must be getting old...
This is my new fridge and I am so deleriously happy, I am either mental or just getting really old...Who knew that an appliance could make a girl so happy? What makes it even better was that it was on clearance and so this $1400 fridge came home with me for UNDER (taxes incl) $500!! That, my friends, is a really good deal! Just wanted to share the joy. I hope you are all having as great a day as me. =)
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Sep. 18, 2007 - It was a good idea at the time...
So, the kids and I are still here in FL while Eric has gone on to TN. I encouraged him to go...I can do it!! I can pack up our whole house AND manage the kids! I said these things, yes I did...
It seemed like a good idea at the time...i really miss him.
Because I miss him so terribly, I am VERY motivated to pack and GO!! I have worked the children very hard over the weekend. On Saturday, we worked hard all day long. I declared Sunday a true day of rest and even promised that we would do something fun because they worked so hard. We were blessed with 10 free mini-golf gift certificates, so I decided that after Daci woke up from her afternoon nap, and the sun went down, we would go golfing.
A few details ...even after the sun goes down, Florida is HOT and HUMID. We were all sticky pools of sweat by the third hole. Also, two year olds don't really do mini-golf all that well. They do however, LOVE to free explore rock formations, waterfalls, plane crashes, stairs, caves and generally don't take orders like, "no running away," "stop," "leave that ball alone," that's not our family," etc. very well. She lasted until the eighth hole...then I was wondering what I was thinking...and after she stepped INTO the water and took her sandals off at the next hole...it went seriously downhill. Fast.
Additionally, I failed to take into account that I am very out of shape and that mini-golf is roughly the equivalent of hundreds of deep-knee bends and/or lunges. I am so sore today, it is not even funny. I am seriously considering letting those other six gift certificates go to waste!! That's pretty sad.
Mini-golf seemed like a good idea though, even to me...=) The kids did have fun.
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Sep. 14, 2007 - stuff
Do you know how much stuff a family can collect over eight years at the same house?! TOO MUCH!! Someone asked me the "easiest" way to move (probably referring to moving van choices) and although I answered their question differently, I am thinking again about it today...My answer is, start a bon fire in the driveway and just start over at your new residence.
Okay, off to PACK SOME MORE USELESS STUFF!!
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Sep. 13, 2007 - maybe I am back...?
Hey, my friends!
I really lack consistency in so many areas of my life, why would blogging be any different? But I have been inspired...looks like my family may be picking up on the blogging thing.
So, I might pop in once in a while again. =) Don't look for me to be writing a lot soon though, we are moving. Yep, after many years of kicking it around, we are relocating to TN. My husband is already there and I expect to join him as soon as I get all our stuff packed up. So I shouldn't be here, I need to pack....bye.
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Sep. 3, 2006 - Won't be shopping there anymore...
We love Walmart. I imagine that if you added up what we've spent there over the years, it would equal tens of thousands of dollars. 
And after they added the convenience of picking up groceries there, well, I loved that!! (Although their produce has never been very good).
Over the years, we've noticed a general decline in coustomer service and many stores are not as clean and tidy as many competitors. But those low prices kept luring me in...you know, family on a single income, lots of littles...lots of bang for your buck there.
However, my dollars won't support this...Walmart has just announced an alliance/partnership with an outfit that calls themselves the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. I think Sam Walton is turning over in his grave. Certainly this can't be the Walmart he envisioned.
If you want to act, I encourage you to download this flyer and leave it at your local store. You may also want to take action by calling your local Walmart as well as the national headquarters.
I plan to do all of the above...and then spend my money elsewhere.
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Aug. 8, 2006 - Kids say the cutest things...
A few weeks ago at the dinner table...
Hubby: I'll try to get those e-mail accounts set up for you boys.
Nicholas: (with enthusiasm) I can't wait to tell Anna I have my own e-mail account!
Ian: (very enthusiastic and hopeful): Yeah! Now all I need is a BANK account!!
And yesterday opening the mail, hubby and I rec'd new credit cards.
Ian asks: Mom, what is that?
Me: A new credit card. Isn't it pretty...all gold and shiny (they are very into pirates and treasures now).
Ian: (wistfully) If only I could have one *sigh*...
I promise we are not fixated on money around here. I am not sure where he gets it! 
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Jun. 2, 2006 - Stuff of legends (in our home anyways)
This story has become almost legendary in our family. We literally get requests for "the Buzz Lightyear story." So for your reading pleasure...
My middle son has a very active and vivid imagination. Often, when he was very little, he would get in character, sometimes with an accompanying costume, and for the day would only answer to the name of that person. This is an important detail...
On this particular day, I took a short trip to the mall to pick up a wedding gift for some friends. I had with me, my 4 yr old, my 2 yr old, and the baby in a stroller. The instructions I gave to the boys were to "stay right with mommy, hold onto the stroller." Generally speaking, this usually worked and I never felt the need for a "leash/harness."
While in the coffee shop to purchase a pound of coffee to go with the coffee grinder I selected, I relaxed my "hold onto the stroller" rule. The boys began to play peek-a boo around the half wall that separated the table area from the coffee counter. While I was trying to decide which flavor, my four year old began the patting and pecking that drives mothers to tune out their kids. "ummm, mommmy? mommy? MOMmy? mooommmyy...mom? MOM!" I finally turned to him, a bit exasperated and told him to wait. He replied, "Okaaaay, but this is kinda important." "What is it?" I asked. "Um, I can't find Ian. We were just playing at the wall but now he's gone." "WHAT!?"
Panic stricken, I looked all around the store...under tables, behind shelves, behind the counter/cash register. He really had dissappeared. "How long?" I asked my Nicholas (the 4 yr old). Of course, he had no concept of time, but I knew it couldn't have been more than a minute or two. How far can a two year old go in a few minutes?
We rushed out into the mall area to scan down the corridor both directions and as fate would have it, the mall was hosting a boat show. Very large water craft are not really conducive to seeing in any direction more that a few feet. So there I am, circling yachts like a shark, yelling, "Buzz? BUZZ LIGHTYEAR?! Ian? Buzz!!" I really did not want to leave the center court area, rationalizing that if he wandered off, he couldn't be far...
I spotted a security uniformed person a few storefronts down. By this time (again, not more than 5 minutes total have passed, but it seems like hours) I am nearing hyperventilation. I barrel down the mall towards her, pushing the stroller and dragging my 4 yr old yelling, "Mall Security? Are you with mall security?!"
She replies affirmatively and tells me to calm down. Our exchange went something like this...
"Ma'am. Ma'am, you need to calm down."
"I've LOST my two year old!!! You HAVE to help me find him!!"
"Okay, I can help, but you've got to calm down. Can you describe him for me? What was he wearing, hair color, eye color. etc.?"
I totally was drawing a blank...What WAS he wearing today? TALL?! I don't know!?
My four year old said calmly, "He's about this tall to me (gesturing), his hair is brown, his eyes are blue, and I helped dress him in a stripy shirt and jeans short pants today." He is still the calm rational one in the family. =)
So she walkie talkies a description out over the airwaves as I wait in anticipation. Almost immediately, the reply came. "We have a child matching that description, ask her what the child's name is."
"Ian, Ian Wilbanks." I said breathlessly.
At the same time, at the other end of the walkie talkie connection, they were asking,
"What's your name sweetie?"
The reply, loud and clear.."I BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!!"
Huge sigh of relief, "That's my son! Where is he, can we go get him?"
"They'll bring him to us, we'll need to wait at the elevators."
As the doors opened, my son popped out his "wings" and "flew" out circling the stroller. "I BUZZ LIGHTYEAR, I flyed to the mall mommy!"
Praise the Lord for little old ladies who people watch! He was on the upper level at the opposite end of the mall when they stopped him and took him to a security person.
I went right across the street to Toys R Us and bought one of those dreaded leashes.
Easily the longest 5-7 minutes of my whole life!!
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Apr. 29, 2006 - Super Size Me
Dad gummit! I just lost a whole entry!!!!
ARRRGGHHH!!
Okay, I will try to touch on the highlights as I have other things to do today. I recieved an honorable mention on Gena's blog for my most embarrassing moments ever. If you would like to read more about it, surf on over. It is not for the faint of heart though. Sadly, I did not win the contest, so I am taking up a collection to support me See's Candy addiction. Perhaps after you read it, you will feel compelled to contribute.
Hubby and I watched SuperSize Me last night. It is a documentary/brain-child of independent film-maker Morgan Spurlock. After two teens tried to sue McDonalds for their obesity problems, he had the idea to eat only McDonalds food for a month and watch how it affected his health and well-being. It was VERY compelling. My husband and I are considering seeing if **ClearPlay has a filter for it and showing it to our children. I would recommend it for an eye-opening look at the fast food industry.
I have been teetering on the whole foods edge for a long time, this film was fuel for the fire. I think today, for an adult field trip, I am going to the local WholeFoods Market and see if our wallet can handle switching to free-range, grain-fed, antibiotic/growth hormone free beef, chicken and pork. The sticker shock may kill me, but one of the statement that I have been thinking about all morning was made my the author of the book FastFood Nation, "These food are inexpensive on the menu, but they are really very costly in the long run because of the long term affects on our health."
***ClearPlay is a wonderful way to watch movies. It is a DVD player with advanced technology that allows you to filter content specific to the title you are watching. If this makes no sense to you, check out the website. We LOVE ours!!!
